Vanuatu

Diving

Diving at Efate

There are many dive sights within half an hour of Port Vila and a number of quality dive operators. We have selected Nautilus (PADI) as our preferred dive partner for a couple of reasons - firstly, they're good and secondly, they run free no-obligation introductory pool dives at the resorts for those who think they might like to give it a try.

Nautilus has 18 years diving experience in and around Port Vila and regularly visits a number of reef, wreck, cave and wall sites. Dive costs vary depending on whether you have your own gear and how many dives you take - but a guide… around VT6000 for an introductory dive and VT4500 for certified divers hiring all gear. This is a great spot to become certified as well - apart from being quite inexpensive, your five compulsory dives are guaranteed to be spectacular!

Dive sites near Efate include:

• TWIN BOMBIES: There are two 'bombora' formations and a sheer wall on this dive. The grottos and coral are alive with a variety of welcoming fish. 10 metres on top of the reef to 18 metres over the drop-off.
• FILA ISLAND REEF: Just 15 minutes from the dive base with a depth of 6 to 15 metres. Lots of colourful coral and a variety of colourful small fish.
• BLACKSANDS REEF AND CAVES: 8 - 14 metres with a variety of fish and rays on the sandy bottom. There is a series of interlocking caves and swim-through tunnels honeycombing this reef.
• MELE REEF: An extensive reef that rises up in the middle of Mele Bay to around 6 metres from the surface. There are lots of dives around here - a good one is along a vertical wall to a shallow reef to finish.
• CATHEDRAL: A delightful dive in a vast cavern off the Pango peninsula to 26 metres. Shafts of light create unusual effects. You can swim through to the back and up a 'chimney' to a large pool on the surface inside the reef - then back to the outside and along the wall to explore and look out into the deep open ocean.
• OLLIES LOLLY: Near Hideaway Island this is a large bommie starting at 9 metres. A range of hard and soft corals and heaps of fish - large and small. Great for photography.
• KONANDA: This is a lovely wreck dive. Konanda sits on a flat, sandy bottom at 26 metres with her derricks and rigging reaching up to within ten metres of the surface. She is an Island Trader, 45 metres long, which was damaged in a cyclone in 1987 and deliberately sunk for the delight of scuba divers. She has been carefully prepared so penetration into the cabins and holds is totally safe. An ideal introduction to the fun of wreck diving.
• STAR OF RUSSIA: This grand old lady of sailing ship days rests in Port Vila Harbour. She's 80 metres long and 13 metres wide and down 33 metres. Divers can swim through the body of the ship, swim up the three massive masts, around the romantic, shapely bow and check out the wheel, rudder and anchor machinery. There's some history here too. The Star of Russia was built by Harlan and Wolff of Belfast who also built the Titanic. It was also part of a race between herself and one of the new steamships in the early 1900's. The race was from England to Australia. They took different routes (as 'Russia' was subject to the prevailing winds) and the sailboat took the honours with the steamship three days behind!
• TASMAN: Here's a dive with a difference - a Qantas S26 Sandringham Flying Boat. A bulky plane with a wingspan of over 30 metres. The dive begins at the tail, down over the body to the nose where you can climb through the cockpit window and out the other side. Divers need to plan for 40 metres here. This plane was also a record breaker - she was the first to cross the Tasman Sea from Auckland to Sydney in under eight hours! (Today it's around two.)
• SEMLE FEDERSEN: A cargo-carrying trading vessel which was sunk along the Pango Coast in Mele Bay in 1985. Now home to lots of plants and animals, the stern area, cabins and wheelhouse can be dived within 40 metres. The visibility here is outstanding (60 metres) and the whole ship can be seen at a glance while descending the mooring line. A valuable dive as a build-up for divers wanting to take on the 'President Coolidge' in Santo.

Diving at Santo

Some intresting divesites at Santo:

• PRESIDENT COOLIDGE: The largest in the world and considered by many the best wreck dive in the world. 22,000 ton, 200m x 25m (654' x 81'). The President Coolidge was a luxury passenger liner converted to troop carrier during W.W.II. While entering the Santo harbour she hit two American sea mines on the 26th October 1942. Almost completely intact you can swim through the many holds and decks viewing the many reminders of war. You can see the famous "Lady", an Elizabethan statue that sits above the fire place and a reminder of the ships former grandeur. Diving on the Coolidge is broken up into many different sites with dives to suit all experience and interests. All dives are guided by experienced professional dive guides and Divemasters. The Coolidge is also home for many corals and fish, schools of barracuda, trevally, sharks and reef fish are permanent residents. Not to forget Boris the 200kg (440 pounds) grouper that lives on the wreck and can be hand fed. depth 18m - 70m.
• TUTUBA POINT: One of the best visibility areas, 40m - 50m (130' - 160') is not uncommon. This locations main attraction is the geography. Caves, swimthroughs, chasms, crayfish, all with an abundance of spectacular hard and soft corals that seem to go on forever..... depth 5m - 30m.
• MILLION DOLLAR POINT: At the end of W.W.II, thousands of tons of US Military equipment was dumped into the sea. Now named because of its worth, Million Dollar Point attracts an abundance of fish life. it is quite unique swimming over bulldozers, cranes, fork lifts, trucks and a pile of various military hardware. depth , 0m - 40m.
• FANTASTIC: A photographers paradise !!! A field of gorgonian fan corals stand upright on a small isolated reef. Large schools of small bait fish including fusiliers hug tight to the reef. Large Spanish Dancers are often found in this area. Also seen here are small schools of Dog Tooth Tuna. depth 24m - 40m
• USS TUCKER: The Tucker was a US Destroyer also sunk by mines. Fairly open after salvage attempts, the Tucker allows easy entry for exploring. Many fish inhabit the wreck including Hump head Maori Wrasse. The USS Tucker was the first ship to fire against the Japanese during the attack on Pearl Harbour. Much of the ship was made of stainless steel. depth 12m - 21m.
• TUBANA: One of those typical wall dives decorated with gorgonian fans and black coral. One of those really great dives if your into "Wall Diving". depth 3m - 70m
• MV HENRY BONNEAUD: A 45m coastal trading tramp sunk intentionally in 1989 for the purpose of diving on. Now the Henry acts as an artificial reef attracting an incredible amount of fish life and coral growth. The Henry Bonneaud makes the perfect introduction to wreck diving. If your into night diving, this wreck is a must; hundreds of "Flashlight fish" swarm about the wreck like stars.... depth 30m - 42m.
• SHARK FEEDING: If you're into excitement and adrenaline rush, then this is a must do dive. Watch Gray Reef Sharks feed right in front of your eyes. If this doesn't excite you, you will need to check your pulse. Schools of Barracuda and giant Dog Tooth Tuna are often seen in the area.... depth 10m - 21m
• CAVE DIVING: A recent discovery has uncovered world class fresh water"Cave Diving". Santo now offeres a variety of caverns, sinkholes, and cave dives. 12 holes have already been found with oportunity to find many others. Currently only a hand full of Divers have dived in this area. This whole area has only been open since 1994, and diving only started with exploration in 1996. These caves have been graded and maped by experienced cave diving teams, and has been declared "world Class". Depths can vary from maximum depths of only 14m (46') to 54m (180') Penitrations from 10m to 1200. Divers wishing to dive these areas must book in advance obtain the relevent qualification for cave diving prior to arrival, (log books will be required) For divers not qualified in cave diving, guided tours can be arranged for some of the sites . As the whole area has only recently been discovered, we will update these pages with dive site profiles, drawings and photographs.

These sites are just a few of the many different dives available. More new locations are always being found so running out of dive sites is never a problem.

For more general information on Vanuatu to:

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• Ambrym
• Epi
• Banks and Torres Islands

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